'Today' chief Jamie Horowitz ousted as NBC morning woes continue

Jamie Horowitz will exit his post as 'Today' general manager immediately, according to NBC memo

NBC is having a tough time with "Today."

Once the untouchable No. 1 among morning news shows, "Today" has been plagued by ratings woes and other problems in recent years. On Monday the network pushed out the executive brought in to turn around the show, just four months after snatching him away from ESPN and about two months after he first appeared around the NBC offices.

Jamie Horowitz -- who started his career as a researcher in NBC Sports -- will exit his post as "Today's" general manager immediately, according to a memo from NBC News Chief Deborah Turness.

"He's a talented producer and executive, but, together, he and I have come to the conclusion that this is not the right fit," Turness wrote to staff members.

Turness said she herself will oversee "Today" in conjunction with staffers Don Nash and Jen Brown until a replacement can be found.

Reports and industry speculation have painted an atmosphere of low morale and power struggles inside "Today." A Page Six report in the New York Post earlier this month said that cohost Natalie Morales plans to leave the show due to her unhappiness with the situation.

Noah Oppenheim, a senior producer of the morning program from 2005-08 when it was No. 1 in the ratings, is returning as the top executive in charge of the entire editorial operation.

"Noah will oversee all aspects...

NBC News is turning to a name from the past to help lead "Today" into the future.

Noah Oppenheim, a senior producer of the morning program from 2005-08 when it was No. 1 in the ratings, is returning as the top executive in charge of the entire editorial operation.

"Noah will oversee all aspects...

(Stephen Battaglio)

Circumstances have evidently not changed much since 2012, when cohost Matt Lauer was widely attacked in the media for having helped engineer the ouster of colleague Ann Curry. Lauer later said he was "disappointed" by the way the controversy played out in news outlets.

"Today" lost its once-commanding lead in the morning news race and now must settle for No. 2 behind ABC's "Good Morning America."